Antiskid device



'N. M. HOPKINS.

ANTlSKID DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.7, 1920.

1,380,964. Patented June 7, 1921.

UNITED STATES NEVIL MONROE HOPKINS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ANTISKID DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 7, 1921.

Application filed February 7, 1920". Serial No. 356,972.

T all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, NEvIL MONROE Hor- KINS, a citizen of theUnitedStates, residing at Washington, District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antiskid Devices,of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to devices for preventing the skidding ofmotorpropelled vehicles having rubber tires and more particularly todevices such as disclosed 111 my Patents No. 1,328,739, dated Jan. 20,1920, and No. 1,330,115, dated Feb. 10, 1920.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device of the characterreferred to which is exceedingly simple in construction and operation,which may be quickly attached to cars of any type and make and which maybe sold at a low price.

It is another object to provide a device of such form that it may becheaply and conveniently attached.

It is still another object to provide a .device which may be easily andconveniently controlled, kept in repair and replenished.

Various other objects will be pointed out in the specification.

In order to more clearly explain the invention and its characteristicfeatures, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which--Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a vehicle showingthe preferred application of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the rear part of the casing to showpart of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the casing along line 33;

Fig. 1 is a sectional view along line 4-4;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation simllar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form ofthe invention;

F ig. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a detail;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of certain details.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of an arrangement which may take the place ofthe arsangement shown in Fig. 6; and

'lilg. 9 is a sectional view of another detai In Fig. 1 the device 12embodying the invention is disposed in the angle between the runningboard 10 and the mudguard 11.

v The device 12 essentially comprises an upwardly elongated casing 13having in its upper part a reservoir 14 which has a fill- 1ng cap 15 andan inclined bottom 16.

Below the bottom 16 is a chamber 17, contalnlng the principal part ofthe operating mechanism' The operating mechanism includesa fan 18, andelectric motor 19 for driving it, a gravlty feed pipe 20, a valve 21 forcontrolling the feed and an electro-magnet 22 for operating the valve. 7

The bottom 16 has at is lower end an aperture 23 below which is mounteda short spout 24. Adjacent the lower end of the spout 24 is hinged thegate or valve 21 to control the flow of material through the spout.

The spout 24 opens into the substantially vertical feed pipe whichextends through the bottom 25 of the chamber '17 and projects a shortdistance below it.

The fan 18 is housed in casing 26 which is disposed in alinement withthe feed pipe 20 and directly in back of it. The outlet 27 from the fancasing is also in alinement with the feed pipe 20 and projects from thebottom 25 downwardly and forms together with the projecting part of thefeed pipe 20 a single tubular element. In fact the arrangement ispreferably such, as indicated in Fig. 4, that the wall 28 is common toboth the feed pipe 20 and the outlet 26. This tubular element terminatesin a curved nozzle 29.

The motor 19 may be of course of a suitable design. In the drawing it isrepresented by the armature 19, the field poles 19*, the field winding19, the commutator 19, the brushes 19 and brush holder 19. I

The valve 21 is operated at a distance in a Separate compartment bymeans of the electromagnets 22 having iron cores 22 projecting from the.top .in proximity to an armature 22 pivotally mounted by means of a rod22 on the frame 22 The armature is counterbalanced by means of a weight22, the weight and the relation of the parts being such that the valveis normally pressed against the end of the spout 24 and closes it. Whenthe electromagnets 22 are energized, the armature is attracted whichcauses swinging motion thereof about the rod 22 and the opening of thevalve 21. When the magnets are made inoperative, the countera distancein a separate compartment to avoid catching wedged shaped grains of sandand binding.

In order to guard against accidental opening of the valve due tovibrations or other causes, I provide means for locking the valve inclosed position. In Fig. 6 Ihave shown a simple arrangement for thispurpose. A blade 36 of magnetic material is hinged on a pivot 37 and isactuated by a spring 38 to bear against the armature 22 to brake itsmovement. I preferably slightly bend the blade to define a shoulder 36adapted to more positively hold the armature in position. When themagnets are energized, the blade 36 is drawn downwardly against the core22 thereby releasing the armature and the armature is thenswung aboutits pivot.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modification.

The armature 22 carries a pin43 projecting 1 from its side and isnormally held in a notch 43 in a lever 44 which is pivoted at one endand carries at its other end anarmature 45. One of the cores 46 of theelectromagnets has an overhanging pole piece 47 in the path of movementof the armature 45. The parts are so related that when the magnets areenergized, the armature 45 is pulled upwardly to the pole piece 47whereby the armature 22 is set free from the locking action and is inturn swung about its pivot. When. the magnets. are made inoperative,both the lever 44 and the armaturebe controlled by means of apush-button or other similar switch mechanism conveniently disposed onthe steerin wheel, side door of'car-or dash board. hi feature is not.sh'o'wn, since it is a matter ofcommon knowledge. The electromagnetsare connected in parallel with the motor as'indicated in Fig. but ,ofcourse may be connected in series with motor and batte Theoperation isobvious. When the pushbutton 1s pressed, the motor is started up and atthe same time the armature 22 is attracted by thecore 22 causing thevalve 21 to open. The sand or other material drops by gravity and as itemerges from the lower end of thefeed pipethe blast of air from the fanblows it with considerable force through the nozzle 29- against thetire.

.vehicles of various sizes.

In order to. protect the nozzle 29 against mud and broken chain parts Imount a guard 30 on the running board. I also may provide a shield 30'at right angle to the guard 30 to prevent cross currents of. air fromdiverting the sand away from the tire.

' To protect the air inlet for the fan against ingress of water or dirtI preferably attach a shield 31. The mud guard 19 and the run-, ningboard may thus be washed by directing a hose against them without dangerof water entering the device. f

The device may be adjusted for service on To this end the opening 23 andthe spout 24 may be made of the largest cross-section required for largevehicles and a sliding gate 32 may be used to decrease the efi'ectiveopening to the required degree for smaller vehicles. Such a sliding gateis indicated in Fig. 2. It may be operated by a rod 33 and screwmechanism 34at its projecting end. Instead of a sliding gate Variousother devices may be applied to the same end.

A bell 35 may be mounted in the reservoir toindicate the approachingdepletion thereof. The hammer of the bell, when freedof the sand issubjected tothe vibrations incident to the movement of the vehicle andstrikes the bell and thereby gives an audible signal to the driver. 95

In'order to more distinctly indicate approaching depletion of thereservoir, I may eleetically separate the bell 15 and its hammer by. aninsulating layer 15' and interconnect them by an electrical circuitincluding an indicating device. In the drawing only the wires 15 areindicated as part of suchelectrical circuit. When the level of the sandhas sunk sufficiently to set the hammer free and the hammer makescontact with the bell, the indicating device which maybe a bell or anyform of annunciator is actuated.

The nozzle 29 is preferably formed with an under-cut lip as lndicated toprevent accumulation of mud. In the nozzle '29 may 'be pivotally mounteda blade 50 adapted to be turned by a handle 51 to direct the flow ofsand.v

It isunderstood thatthe relation of the parts in a device ap lied to oneside'of the vehicle will differ s11 htlyfrom that as applied to'theother si e.

' The form of the device shown in Fig. 5 differs from that shown in Fig.1 only as to changes necessary due to the change of loca-' tion. Thedevice 40 is suspended from the mud guard 41. An opening 42 for fillingthe reservoir is provided at the side or top. The operating mechanism isessentially the same as in the first form.

elongated form. This feature commo both forms offers particularadvantages/ It affords considerable reservoir capacity withoutencroaching upon otherwise useful space or interfering with the normaluse of the ve hicle.

I claim 1. In an anti-skid device, the combination of a casingcontaining a reservoir for abrasive material, and a fan, a feed pipeleading from the reservoir out of the casing, an

air-outlet pipe for the fan positioned to di-- rect the air against thematerial passing out of the feed tube, in the direction of flow.

2. Device according to claim 1 in which the feed tube and the airoutlet'pipe extend in contiguous relation and define a common nozzle.

3. Device according to claim 1 in which the feed tube and the air-outletpipe con- Stitute a single tubular element defining a nozzle and have apartition wall.

4. An anti-skid device comprising a casing for storing abrasivematerial, a feed tube extending out of the casing and means connectedwith one of said parts for adjustably regulating the flow of materialfrom the reservoir through the feed tube.

5. An anti-skid device comprising a reservoir for storing abrasivematerial, said reservoir having an outlet opening, a feed tube extendingfrom said outlet and means for adjustably constricting the outletopening.

6. The combination of an anti-skid de-. vice comprising a reservoir forstoring abrasive material and a feed tube projecting from the reservoir,said device being constructed and arranged to be-mounted adjacent a mudguard and a shield mounted to protect the projecting feed tube.

7. The combination of an anti-skid device comprising a reservoir forstoring abrasive material and a feed tube projecting downwardlytherefrom and terminating in a portion curved to approach horizontaldirection, and having an undercut free edge, said device beingconstructed and arranged to be mounted adjacent a mud guard and ashieldmounted to protect the projecting feed tube.

8. The combination of an anti-skid de vice including a reservoir forstoring abrasive material and means in the reservoir operative toindicate approaching depletion of the material.

9. An anti-skid device comprising a casing divided into twocompartments, an upper compartment for storing abrasive material and alower compartment for housing a fan and an'electric motor for operatingthe fan, a feed tube connected with the upper compartment and projectingout of the casing, an air-outlet tube connected with the fan compartmentand positioned to direct air upon the material in the direction of itsflow, mechanism including electro-magnetic means for controlling theflow of the material from the reservoir and means for simultaneously inghaving a compartment for storing abra-' sive material, a compartmentcontaining a fan and motor means therefor,'a tubular element defining aduct connected with the storing compartment and a duct connected withthe fancompartment, said tubular element terminating in a nozzle portioncommon to both ducts, the tubular element extending in verticaldirection and the nozzle portion being curved to approach horizontaldirection.

13. An anti-skid device comprising a reservoir for storing abrasivematerial, a feed pipe connected to the reservoir, a valve mechanism forcontrolling the flow of material from the reservoir, means for normallylocking the valve in closing position and means for opening the valve.

1 1. An anti-skid device comprising a reservoir for storing abrasivematerial, a feed pipe connected to the reservoir, a valve mechanism forcontrolling the flow of material from the reservoir, means for normallyholding the valve in closing position, means for locking the valve insuch position and electro-magnetic means operative to make the lockinoperative and to open the valve.

15. An anti-skid device comprising a reservoir for storing abrasivematerial, a feed pipe connected to the reservoir, a valve mechanism forcontrolling the flow of material from the reservoir, means for normallyholding the valve in closing position, means for locking the valve insuch position, and means for successively acting upon the said lockingmeans and the valve mechanism to open the valve.

16. An anti-skid device comprising a reservoir for storing abrasivematerial, a feed pipe connected to the reservoir, a valve mechanism forcontrolling the flow of sand from the reservoir and means for actuatingthe valve mechanism, said means including an electro-magnet, having anarmature connected'to the valve mechanism and adapted to move therewith,means for locking the armature in valve-closing position and meansconnected with the locking means and forming a second armature of theelectrothe actuating means comprise means for antomatically closing thevalve and electromagnetic meansfor opening it.

18. An anti-skid device comprising an upwardly elongated casing havingsurfaces adapted to take up the angular space intermediate the runningboard and the mudguard, means in the casing serving as a reservoir forabrasive material, a'fan compartment and a fan therein, a feed tubeextending from the reservoir out of the casing and an air tube leadingfrom the fan compart-- ment in contiguous relation to the said feed tubeto form therewith a single projectingelement adapted to pass through oneof the elements defining the angular space.

19. An anti-skid device comprising a reservoir for storing abrasivematerial, a tube for discharging material therefrom, a valve forcontrolling the flow of material from the tube, a hinge connection forthe. valve having a lateral extension, electromagnetic means connectedwith the said extension for turning the valve and. 'a-separating wallbetween the valve and the electromagnetic means.

20. An anti-skid device comprising a reservoir for storing abrasivematerial, a feed a a 1,sso,9ea

. mote from the flow of material.

21. An anti-skid device comprising a reservoir for storingabrasivematerial, a feed tube for discharging material from thereservoir, a spout opening from the reservoir into the feed tube andvalve mechanism for controlling the flow of material through the spout,said valve mechanism' including a hinged element adapted to be swunginto positionto close the spout and into another position to open thespout, bearin for the hinged element outside the feed pipe remote fromthe flow of the material and means outside thefeed pipe remote from theflow of the materialfor actuating the valve.

. In testimony whereof, I afix my signature.

NEVIL MONROE HOPKINS.

